Perfume has accompanied humankind throughout history. After Perfume in Egypt, today we're going to discover the history of perfume in Ancient Greece to learn how they used fragrances and how they influenced its manufacture and distribution throughout Europe.
Perfumes in Greece
In Greece, there were a great number of gods, and everything had an associated myth, a link to the divine. Perfume was no exception. The inhabitants of Olympus were the first to use aromas for grooming and taught men and women how to use perfumes. It is said that Aphrodite pricked herself on a rose thorn, which was white and odorless. He stained her with his blood, turning her red, and Eros, captivated by her beauty, kissed her, thus giving her that intoxicating fragrance. The development of perfumery in Greece originated in Crete and other colonies. Perfumers from these countries settled in Greek cities, and the inhabitants quickly learned this art, becoming great masters of perfume and ointment making, exporting them to Europe. It is believed that they were the first to create liquid perfumes, which they packaged in precious containers of lead, silver, gold, and most commonly alabaster, all decorated according to their culture. The Greeks used a different fragrance for each part of their body: marjoram for the hair, palm oil for the chest, mint for the arms, thyme for the knees, oregano oil for the feet, and so on. They perfumed themselves after bathing or before attending a special event—just as we do now. In Greek gymnasiums, there was an area dedicated to personal hygiene, and there they had a variety of fragrances to use before going out. They believed that a pleasant aroma warded off evil spirits; in fact, the deceased were buried well-perfumed and accompanied by a flask of perfume. They also considered that perfumes had healing properties. The most commonly used aromas by the Greeks were: myrrh, mint, marjoram, thyme, oregano, myrtle, and almond blossom. Each and every one of these aromas, of course, has a divine origin.
Here are some fragrances from our catalog that contain some of these ingredients.
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